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Local police aren’t very concerned when fourteen-year-old Billy Tanner fails to finish his community service at their stable. Tossing a firebomb at a police horse isn’t something they can easily forgive.

But when the boy’s frantic grandmother asks PI Nikki Drake to hunt for her missing grandson, it’s a call for help Nikki can’t ignore. Her search takes her to the backwoods of California where a serial killer is pursuing his own brand of justice.

Yet time is not on her side…or Billy’s.


Note: This book was originally released by Kindle Worlds but has been rewritten and republished by Westerhall books.

134 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2014

378 people are currently reading
99 people want to read

About the author

Bev Pettersen

43 books249 followers
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Bev Pettersen is a three-time nominee in the National Readers Choice Award as well as the winner of other international awards including the Reader Views Reviewer’s Choice Award, Aspen Gold Reader’s Choice Award, Write Touch Readers’ Award, Kirkus Recommended Read, and a HOLT Medallion Award of Merit. She competed on the Alberta Thoroughbred race circuit and is an Equestrian Canada certified coach.

Bev lives in Nova Scotia with her family—humans and four-legged—and when she's not writing novels, she's riding. If you’d like to know when her next book will be available or just want to say hi, please visit her at www.BevPettersen.com

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5 stars
408 (62%)
4 stars
181 (27%)
3 stars
48 (7%)
2 stars
10 (1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Dee.
2,677 reviews21 followers
September 7, 2023
Two-haiku review:

Teenage boy missing
Cops think he's a runaway
Grandma hires Nikki

K-9 is absent
But another dog has role
Real creepy villain
128 reviews2 followers
November 28, 2017
Repent by Bev Pettersen

Wow! a lot is packed into this short story!

A young man has gone missing. His brother and his grandmother say that this is not a bit like him; that it is not at all like him to be any place but home when he has finished with work or school. His dog is pining for him. He has a little history with the police, but they all liked him and he was working for them helping with the horse patrol.

The police have decided that he has run away, but our private detective, Lizzy Gardner, thinks otherwise.

In such a short little story, Pettersen has us from frustration to horror to tears. She is a superb writer. If you like a quick read mystery, this one is for you.
333 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2022
Enjoyable with one reservation

Nikki is a very smart, able and persistent woman who works doggedly to solve her cases. I just wonder why Justin comes off as some kind of superman who is so busy with his incredibly important job that Nikki feels grateful if he can make time in his schedule to spend an hour or two with her. I didn't really like that she seems to feel that he is so much smarter and better at the job than she is. Otherwise, I enjoyed this book - I just find Justin too perfect. It sometimes felt like Nikki had more of a case of hero worship for him, rather than love (but anyhow I don't read mysteries for the love story. I read them for the action). I liked Jack as he helped Nikki look for his brother, Billy, after he was kidnapped and it would be fun to see them come back again in future books. Jack is so perceptive, smart and wily that I could see him as a detective someday. All in all, I did like this book enough to want to go on and read the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Cindy Dyson Eitelman.
1,467 reviews10 followers
August 8, 2023
Second for me in a series, and I'll definitely go for a third. With her dog recovering from injuries, the detective has to go it alone. Except, of course, for her many friends and contacts and family in the neighborhood.

My only complaint was the splitting of the action between Nikki (the detective) and the kidnapped teen. I realize she had to do it in order to tell a good story, and she did it well, building up the suspense from both sides at once. The only place where I felt she missed a beat was at the ending, when she jumped a little too quickly when another few pages would have made it rising suspense--and action scene--better.

Other than that, very good and more to come.

Profile Image for Lesley.
938 reviews4 followers
July 18, 2023
Did I start this series with the second book for some reason? Yes I did. But it’s surprisingly decent! Nikki is a pretty good MC and I love that it’s centered on people who love animals. The mystery wasn’t terribly mysterious, but it was a well developed story more than anything. My main complaint is that we needed more Gunner, but he was otherwise detained.
Profile Image for Donna (BookDragonGirl).
1,482 reviews9 followers
August 5, 2025
Another fantastic mystery!! Nikki had to go it alone on this one, because her sidekick K9 German Shepherd Gunner is in rehab recovering from his gunshot. She’s so lonely without her boy and wasn’t going to take any cases right away, but when a grandmother comes and begs her to find her missing 14 year old grandson, Nikki can’t say no. This one made be a bit squeamish, but was so good!
Profile Image for Randi.
392 reviews
March 2, 2021
Book 2 in this series. First couple of paragraphs grab you and suck you into the story. Keeps you guessing as to who is behind everything. Read this one in one sitting. Bev is one of my go to authors because of her other books. Received an ARC of the book for review.
19 reviews
March 7, 2021
Hope this is the start of a series.

After reading the first book of two, I had to read the next one. Very interesting, good plot and relatable characters. Love the psychic angle. Enjoyed reading this book very much.
57 reviews
March 25, 2021
Heartwarming

What an enjoyable read. It kept me on the edge of my chair. If you enjoy a warm happy ending this is awesome. Kudos to Bev Pettersen. I look forward to reading more of her books.
116 reviews
June 19, 2021
Great story!

Great story about a PI who cares more about helping than making money. She listens with her heart and intelligence with out snap decisions. Interesting investigation but a few more pages to flesh out the ending would have been nice, that part seemed a little rushed.
Profile Image for Pamela Tracy.
Author 41 books59 followers
July 6, 2021
Pettersen did her job. I'm now waiting for the third in the series.
I liked the two POVs.
I liked Billy and his brother - I want Nikki to hire the brother to work for her.
Gunner's side story worked well.
26 reviews
November 23, 2021
This 2nd book in the K9 series was even more engaging than the 1st. I couldn't put it down and while I loved the ending, I was sorry that the story was done. Hope Bev will write more books for this series.
Profile Image for Pam Bales.
2,541 reviews12 followers
July 29, 2023
Decent read

Dogs, horses, police and PI's, serial killers, dangerous situations, heart stopping action make this a decent read. Liked the first in the series a bit more, so hope the next will be as good as the first.
256 reviews1 follower
August 12, 2023
Amazing Sparky!

Fast-paced and constantly changing, this book was packed with intrigue and fear. The plot changed constantly and kept me guessing. This whole series and cannot wait for the next book.
534 reviews
January 23, 2025
Killer on the loose!

A teenager has disappeared his grandmother is worried! The police consider him a runaway! Will they find him? Will they be too late? Try book #2 two! Note: the pigs are being given food not appropriate!
12.7k reviews190 followers
October 3, 2017
A great mystery by a first time author for me. All about a missing boy Billy and how his grandmother pushes to get him found. A fast paced read.
Profile Image for Tammy Kenney.
235 reviews11 followers
April 20, 2021
Enjoyed the story but it reminded me a lot of an episode I remembered from Criminal Minds.Would have liked more of the story to include Gunner.
34 reviews
June 25, 2021
I enjoyed both of Bev Pettersen's K-9 mysteries. I wish there were more in this series.
Profile Image for Anna.
Author 53 books111 followers
July 31, 2021
Well done, but the thriller aspect got a bit too graphic for me.
156 reviews
August 30, 2021
Goooooo Sparky!!

No Nikki hasn't traded in Gunner, but that spunky biscuit loving beagle is a treasure!! This plot line will make you rethink an eye for an eye. GREAT 2nd book!!!!
Profile Image for Monique.
334 reviews7 followers
September 9, 2022
Extremely quick read. Not much substance to it at all really. Good to get back into the swing of reading again though.
154 reviews1 follower
September 28, 2022
Exciting Reading

I really liked this story. It was suspenseful and exciting. I have to admit that I really missed Gunner in this story.
24 reviews1 follower
November 5, 2022
Great Read!

I really enjoyed the characters, especially the dog! I would have given it five stars, but some of the scenes were a little too gory for my tastes.
Profile Image for Debra.
584 reviews
April 8, 2023
Another winner for us mystery and animal lovers.
Profile Image for Wanda.
503 reviews
November 7, 2024
Nikki has the best luck.

Obviously, her skills of observation contribute to that luck.

I am so happy that Sparky got the good biscuits.

But Nikki deserves another bstch.

221 reviews
June 30, 2025
Great reading

Whoa, what a disturbing character, this is what nightmares are of. This book was full of action and suspense and horror.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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